Daily Republican., 1887-02-03
TWO NsRvY nEN.

TWO NsRvY nEN.
Soon after the war our bureau was
notified that counterfeit one and two
dollar bills were being extensively cir
culated In the region about Reading,
Pa. l WAS detailed, together with .
companion named William Madden,
TO proceed TO Scranton and work up
the case. We soon found that the
money was being Heated by gang of
six or seven, OF whom the majority
were as tough cases as Abe ISuzzard,
of modern fame. We struck two leads
ct the same time, and while mine led
TO Harrisburg his led to the mpuntain-
Gus country around Pottsville, which
at that time contained some of the
most lawless miners who ever handled
. pick.
AT Harrisburg l unearthed an old
bird known as "Greenback Charley"
and landed him temporarily behind
the bars. In three or four days l WAS
satisfied that he was the only one Of
the lot in that neighborhood, and t
out to find Madden, from whom I had
! not yet heard word. met him in
Reading, and Ae also had as prisoner q
mau known as "Sly Jim," but whose
real name was Isaac Watson. He had
been brought from Pottsville. and lie
was the head and front of the "shov
ers." No sooner had Made ~ located
Jim, who was the ostensible owner
of saloon in town, than the fellow
slipped out and made his way up to
the mountains and took quarters in o
cabin occupied by an aged woman-a
widow.
Madden hung TO the scent until he
relocated his game, and al about 4
O'Clock In the afternoon he drew near
the house. Forty rods away he was
met by the old woman, who stated that
Jim was In the house and willing to
surrender Madden should have stop
ped to reflect that some sort of trap was
being laid for him. If Jim was will
ing TO surrender, why hadn't he come
out and shown himself What need
Of a messenger between him and the
officerl
The detective thought OF nothing
hut securing his man at once, and he
pushed on without even drawing his
revolver. The outer door was partly
open, and as he entered the house il
was shut behind him, and he was Gov
cred by revolver in the hands of The
counterfeiter. Sly Jim had served fiv.
years for previous offence lie rea-
soned that the officer had him dead tc
rights on the new case, and that hi
would probably be Settled" for ten oil
fifteen years. This prospect had mad.
him desperate, and he had determined
Cd desperate thing.
"Sit down over therep he com
manded, snd the helpless officer
obeyed.
"Now, then, continued Jim, "wha'
do you want of me?"
"To arrest you for issuing counter
ieit money"
Got any proofs9"
"Plenty."
well, that settles II. I'd rather
; die than go back TO prison, but yol
shall die with me. l could kill yol
and skip, but I'd be run down ant
; hung. We'll 60 together!'
On table In the room was a fifty
pound keg Of powder, and leading int
! it was four minute fuse. Jim walked
across to the table, covered the office
anew, and lighted the end of the fus,
with the remark:
''In four minutes we'll be in h--ll
II you make move from that chat
I'll have to send you ahead littl'
. soonerp
: ~ think I'll wait and 20 with you!'
coolly replied Madden; "a nd If you've
no objections I'll take out my watcl
' and call time
THAT will be a good idea," sale
| JIM aud out came the watch, and til,
Q detective called out, "Ten seconds
I, Fifteen! Twenty! Thirty| and 81
Q on.
Nobody will never know VIVA
j., happened to u.s." remar ked Jim, a
the first minute was nearly gone.
"But they'll mix up tho scraps, an,
! probably bury portion Of me alor
with you. That's the only thing
care about"
"Wcll, l always vas fond of gos;
J company" retorted Jim.
When two minutes had passed tn,
detective began to softly whistle Il
himselt.
at will come mighty sudden whel
it COMES" observed jim, as he crossed
: his legs
ayes, we won't know what hui,
u.s."
whats the time now?''
ooh, we've got over minute yet.
"Don't you wish you hadn't come?
II "Ne, sir! l was bound to have yol
or die with you"
. That's the sort! It's some homo
to die with such man rs you are
The fuse is getting pretty short"
"We've got fifteen seconds more"
Madden leaned back In his chair
and Jim held the revolver full on hi
breast. He hadn't been playing 1
bluff game, and the detective hat
made up his mind that there was ne
escape from death.
, From the corner of his eve h,
watched the fire creep nearer end near
er, but he did not move a finger. Tn,
spark finally touched the slaves of the
keg, and Madden felt now that his las
hour and come. He dropped his eyes
TO his watch and saw the seconds fly
Observation-Disclosures, and he fel
that there had been some miscarriage
When fifteen seconds had passed jim
growled out. The durn thing has
gone back on me-"
He rose as If % go over and examine
it, and the instant the muzzle of his re
volver was depressed Madden sprang
for him and st * him blow between